I stopped for a minute to retie my shoelace (я остановился на минуту, чтобы снова завязать шнурок ботинка; to tie — завязывать), and as I did so (и пока я это делал), a taxi drew up outside (такси подъехало снаружи) and a girl jumped out of it (и девушка выпрыгнула из него). She paid the driver (она заплатила водителю) and hurried up the path to the house (и заторопилась по дорожке к дому), carrying a small suitcase (неся маленький чемодан). As she entered the door (когда она зашла в дверь) she saw me (она увидела меня) and stopped dead (и остановилась как вкопанная: «и остановилась намертво»).

diary ['dar], rear [r], shoelace ['u:les]

"You're very near the truth there, Mr. Barnard," said Crome. "I tell you what I'd like to do — have a look over Miss Barnard's room. There may be something — letters — or a diary."

"Look over it and welcome," said Mr. Barnard, rising.

He led the way. Crome followed him, then Poirot, then Kelsey, and I brought up the rear.

I stopped for a minute to retie my shoelace, and as I did so, a taxi drew up outside and a girl jumped out of it. She paid the driver and hurried up the path to the house, carrying a small suitcase. As she entered the door she saw me and stopped dead.

There was something so arresting in her pose (было что-то, приковывающее /внимание/ в ее позе; arrest — арест; задержание) that it intrigued me (что это заинтриговало меня).

"Who are you (кто вы)?" she said.

I came down a few steps (я спустился на несколько ступенек). I felt embarrassed (я чувствовал смущение) as to how exactly to reply (насчет того, как точно ответить). Should I give my name (следует ли мне назвать мою фамилию)? Or mention (или упомянуть) that I had come here with the police (что я пришел сюда с полицией)? The girl, however, gave me no time to make a decision (девушка, однако, /не/ дала мне нисколько времени принять решение; to decide — решать).

"Oh, well," she said, "I can guess (я могу догадаться)."

She pulled off the little white woollen cap (она стянула маленькую белую шерстяную шапочку) she was wearing (/которая/ была на ней надета: «/которую/ она носила») and threw it on the ground (и бросила ее на землю; to throw). I could see her better now (теперь я мог видеть ее лучше) as she turned a little (когда она повернулась слегка) so that the light fell on her (так, что свет падал на нее).

intrigue n. ['ntri:] intrigue v. [n'tri:], woollen ['wln], decision [d'sn]

There was something so arresting in her pose that it intrigued me.

"Who are you?" she said.

I came down a few steps. I felt embarrassed as to how exactly to reply. Should I give my name? Or mention that I had come here with the police? The girl, however, gave me no time to make a decision.

"Oh, well," she said, "I can guess."

She pulled off the little white woollen cap she was wearing and threw it on the ground. I could see her better now as she turned a little so that the light fell on her.